06/29/2019
You have prayed that the Lord would reveal His will to you, and you have been obedient in it, but do you have the patience and endurance necessary as you await His promise? We love to work, and to accomplish things, but waiting is not one of man’s great virtues, or strongpoints. Can you wait patiently for God’s promise?
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
Hebrews 10:36 ESV
When we were children we knew about “The List”... you know, the one where we are marked as either naughty or nice. All year round we would think of Santa Claus, and the gifts we would receive when we had been nice, but once achieved the wait for Christmas morning was nearly insufferable. The gifts that come with our obedience of God’s will often require patience as well, but are we willing to wait, and how do we go about it?
“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.”
Psalms 37:34 ESV
Just as we praise the Lord in our storms, we are told to love Him during our times of waiting. His Word thrills us in those times, it brings us great anticipation, and it gives us hope, and as we wait we realize that His love gives us perseverance and more.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”
Psalms 130:5-6 ESV
As men our waiting tortures us, that is our nature, but as righteous men, and holy men, we find pleasure in waiting on the Lord... that is the gift of love, and love is God Himself. So our greatest gift has already been given, and suffering the wait for His promise is our greatest joy. God is the Word, and the Word is God, but even in this God is forever Love.
“If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends...”
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your gift of love, and its ability to overcome our lack of patience, and intolerance as we wait upon you. Open our eyes Holy Father to the joy and quickening we receive when we have done your will, and wait lovingly on your promises. Help us Father as we fight against our nature, and find peace and joy in your love and Word. Hear our prayers of thanksgiving, and take pleasure in our worship and praise. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loved us enough to send His own Son to suffer, die, and be raised up to redeem us. Merciful are you, good are you, and loving are you. Your love knows us now, had known us throughout creation, and will know us forevermore. Glorious is your grace, and true is your promise. In you is found all glory, and perfection throughout eternity, and the eternal fountain of life... Love.
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
James 5:7-8 ESV
Rich Forbes